Media Release

Peter Gutwein MP
Shadow Treasurer

Tuesday 8th December 2009

Bartlett ignores Treasury, budget black hole opens up

Reports today that the Premier is unilaterally making major spending decisions without even talking to Treasury Secretary, Don Challen, is a new low for this out-of-control Premier.

David Bartlett has repeatedly said that he wants to make decisions that are data-driven and evidence-based, yet he is now apparently re-writing the budget on the run without even talking to Treasury.

This is reckless in the extreme and shows that basic fiscal management in the Labor Government is crumbling and the Tasmanian economy is at serious risk.

The Treasurer also has questions to answer. Was he consulted before this decision was made? If not, is there a major rift appearing between the Treasurer and Premier?

If the Treasurer was aware, why didn’t he at least get the facts from Treasury as to whether or not the budget can afford to drastically change direction?

We believe that every job, whether it be in the public or private sector, is important. If the budget can stand providing some relief on what the Premier calls ‘public sector pressure points’ then we would be supportive but we need to know the cost of what the Premier is suggesting and what the effect will be on the budget.

Unlike the Government we will continue to be fiscally responsible.

Let’s not forget that the Budget Savings Strategies that the Premier is now apparently walking away from were worth more than $760 million and that this announcement came at the same time as it was revealed the Government is committing over $1 million a day in unfunded, new spending.

Where will the money come from to fill the black hole that Premier Bartlett is creating?

This Government is descending into absolute chaos as it tries to do and say anything it can to cling on to power, but at what cost?

It looks like fiscal responsibility is the first casualty and, unfortunately, the budget and the Tasmanian economy will be the next.